Rams lack history with first round QB choices
by Ryan Van Bibber on May 5, 2009 8:51 AM CDT
in St. Louis Rams history
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PrintFans that were hoping the Rams really would follow through on their hype and draft USC QB Mark Sanchez were a little disappointed when the pick was announced. I'm not going to rehash the arguments for and against that we've already been through, but it is worth point out that drafting Sanchez would have been a huge break with franchise precedent.
The Rams, both the LA and STL versions, have never drafted a QB in the first round, not since the league merger of 1970 anyway. Our last two starting QBs, Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner, were signed as free agents. The great Tony Banks was a second round pick in 1996 and had three years atop the Rams depth chart at QB. Bridging the move from LA to STL was 1994 free agent addition Chris Miller. Prior to Warner, the Rams last great QB was a first round pick, another team's first round pick. JIm Everett was drafted by the Oilers with the third overall pick in 1986, but the team was unable to work out a deal and traded his rights to the Rams. Everett is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and has the second most TDs in team history, behind Roman Gabriel.
GM Billy Devaney worked for years as a pro personnel staffer, in San Diego with Bobby Beathard in the 90s, a three year stint in SF from '01-'03 and two drafts with the Falcons in '06 and '07. Only once during that time did Devaney's teams draft a QB in the first round. And what a doozy it was; the Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf in 1998. Think that might have shaped Devaney's experience at all?
The big question is what happens next year. Will the Rams entertain the idea of a QB in the first round? That might depend on where they wind up picking and who's available with that pick. What about the year after? Or can they find another gem cast off by a team or bagging groceries somewhere?
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Depends
Besides the great Peyton Manning, I can’t think of any high picked QB’s that have gone on to do wonders for their team. You can argue Eli, but personally I think he’s a sorry QB. Unless Sanchez (or the other QB that was drafted before him. What’s his name? Oh yeah…STAFFORD) has a huge year and completely turns around the Jets or Lions, I don’t think you can pick a QB that high. Look at Brady, look at Brees, look at Warner and the list goes on and on. None of those guys were drafted in the first round and they turned out great. I highly doubt Devaney takes a chance on a QB in the first round.
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
Elway,
Marino – there’s a long list of great 1st round QBs.
I would hope...
That some first rounders have become stars, but a majority of the big name QB’s today haven’t been first round picks. You will always have your Matt Ryan’s, but a lot of them come from lower level schools and aren’t highly touted coming into the draft
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
Recently?
Those guys were drafted 30 years ago. And the list of 1st round busts is probably 3 times as long.
In the past 10 years, here’s the QBs who have been drafted in the 1st round.
1998: Peyton Manning (1), Ryan Leaf (2)
1999: Tim Couch (1), Donovan McNabb (2), Akili Smith (3) Duante Cullpepper (11), Cade McNown (12)
2000: Chad Pennington (18)
2001: Michael Vick (1)
2002: David Carr (1), Joey Harrington (3) Patrick Ramsey (32)
2003: Carson Palmer (1), Byron Leftwich (7), Kyle Boller (19), Rex Grossman (22),
2004: Eli Manning (1), Philip Rivers (4), Ben Roethlisberger (11), J.P. Losman (22)
2005: Alex Smith (1), Aaron Rodgers (24), Jason Campbell (25)
2006: Vince Young (3), Matt Leinert (10), Jay Cutler (11)
2007: JaMarcus Russell (1), Brady Quinn (22)
2008: Matt Ryan (3), Joe Flacco (18)
The names drafted first overall (Peyton Manning, Tim Couch, Mike Vick, David Carr, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, JaMarcus Russell) don’t exactly instill confidence in me that the top rated QB is a guaranteed success to lead your franchise for 10 to 15 years. Five of those guys (Vick being a special case) didn’t even start for their teams last year. That’s more than half of them.
But, overall there are some good names (Manning, McNabb, Manning, Cutler, Roethlisberger, etc.), but a lot of busts (Couch, Akili, McNown, Carr, Grossman, Losman, etc.). Drafting a QB is a complete crapshoot no matter how much a talking head screams and spouts off about how this guy is the next Brett Favre.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
Don't forget Rivers
Ladies and gentlemen, your top-rated passer of 2008. Also, he ended up going to the team with the #1 pick, thanks to the Manning family.
The reason there are so many busts among first-round QBs is the hype that the position generates, because a great QB pick can literally transform a franchise. Some years there are just not very good crops of talent. Others, like 2004 or 1983, are phenomenal. But teams see a need under center and rush to fill the hole, even if the crop is poor.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
Completely
If he plays well, we have to look at DE, & DT first.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 5, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Its not just performance
but health as well. He is not necessarily out of the Iron Man QB type mold. My guess is that he doesn’t make enough ground up in both those areas this season to make the FO believe we don’t need to go the QB direction come draft time.
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
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